Former Monticello police Chief Doug Solomon, testifying Tuesday in Sullivan County Court in Trustee T.C. Hutchins' felony corruption trial, said he was under constant attack by Hutchins and former Village Manager John LiGreci in 2011 over Hutchins' and LiGreci's push to hire Kariem McCline as a police officer and other budgetary and policing issues, to such an extent he decided to retire.

Ex-police chief recalls Monticello blowups

By VICTOR WHITMAN

Times Herald-Record

June 19, 2013 - 2:00 AM

MONTICELLO — Former Monticello police Chief Doug Solomon testified Tuesday that his meetings with Trustee T.C. Hutchins often ended in screaming matches over his opposition to hiring Hutchins' friend Kariem McCline as a police officer.

Solomon, testifying in Hutchins' felony corruption trial in Sullivan County Court, said he was under constant attack by Hutchins and former Village Manager John LiGreci in 2011 over McCline and other budgetary and policing issues, to such an extent he decided to retire.

"I was literally under the gun about what I did and what the police department did," Solomon said.

Solomon said he knew Hutchins for 30 years and considered him a friend. But when Hutchins began pushing McCline's application, Solomon felt he could be suspended or fired. Solomon said he knew McCline was arrested for dealing crack cocaine in Monticello as a juvenile and he could never hire him.

"I would be berated by T.C. Hutchins over a number of issues," Solomon said.

During one heated argument, Solomon said he asked Hutchins, "What is your problem with me?' He said, 'My downfall with you is over Kariem McCline.'"

At one meeting, Solomon said, "T.C. Hutchins was ranting and raving about Kariem McCline. I said, 'You are out of line. His response was, 'He is my friend and when the time comes I will vote for him.'"

Hutchins is charged with two counts each of felony coercion and misdemeanor official misconduct. He is accused of conspiring with LiGreci to order Solomon to stop a pre-employment background investigation in September 2011. The investigation ultimately uncovered that McCline had drug and burglary arrests as a youth in Albany and Troy, and that McCline left a former job as an aide at the Goshen Secure Center facing disciplinary charges.

Solomon acknowledged Hutchins never personally ordered him to stop the background check.

He said Hutchins threatened to "start a paper trail for you" and LiGreci told him, "Maybe you are not the guy for this job anymore."

Solomon said the background check was incomplete on Sept. 28, 2011. He stopped it on LiGreci's order and turned over the file. Solomon said he believed enough information had been compiled to disqualify McCline.

On Tuesday, District Attorney Jim Farrell and Hutchins' lawyer, Michael McDermott, rested their cases. McDermott called a total of two witnesses: civil rights lawyer Michael Sussman on Monday and Deborah Mack, a community activist married to Hutchins' uncle Tommy Mack, who gave McCline a reference. Both lawyers are scheduled to give closing statements Wednesday afternoon.

The jury could start deliberating Thursday.

If convicted of the felony, Hutchins faces up to seven years in prison and would be removed from the Village Board.